Reviewer:
penfeather
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February 20, 2021
Subject:
RUSTIN HICKORY
The actress who played Joan sounds like a young Bryna Raeburn.
Reviewer:
otrgirl9691
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November 2, 2018
Subject:
Rushton Hickory
One of my favorite episodes is Rushton (or is it Ruston?) Hickory—I felt like I was in a movie, as Phil and the main female character, Joan, had such good chemistry. Who is the actress that plays Joan? She sounds so familiar, but I can't place it.
Reviewer:
Jen12345
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August 26, 2017
Subject:
Mohr in King in Yellow
A must listen - Gerald Mohr as King in "King in Yellow" with Van Heflin as Marlowe. A recurring OTR character Parley Bear played the 2nd Mayor on TV's Andy Griffith - mayor Roy Stoner.
Reviewer:
Man from Arles
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August 29, 2013
Subject:
Simply the best!
Incomparable radio. It holds up in sublime fashion. And yes, Mohr is (was?) head and shoulders above Van Heflin. I am so saddened to have reached the end of the series. I dragged them out as long as possible, in excruciating delight.
Reviewer:
KipW
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February 9, 2013
Subject:
Red Wind!
I'll agree that this is the best episode of the series (note: "Red Wind," not "The Red Wind"), based on what I think is the best Marlowe story. The original is a little too involved to include all the subplots, but what comes through here was a cut above the rest of the shows. "Johnny Dalmas," incidentally, is something of an in-joke. Chandler used the name for his detective a time or two before settling on Marlowe. If you only read one of his stories, read this one.
There are also some good Marlowe tales — based on the movies, which are based on the novels — in the Lux Radio Theatre, including THE LADY IN THE LAKE and MURDER, MY SWEET (based on _Farewell, My Lovely_). PEARLS ARE A NUISANCE is another Chandler short story, not originally about Marlowe, but easy enough to change. THE KING IN YELLOW and TROUBLE IS MY BUSINESS are also short stories. WHO SHOT WALDO is also actually RED WIND under another title. The movie DOUBLE INDEMNITY was scripted by Chandler, but it's hard to say without checking how much of his work stayed in the Lux version.
Reviewer:
lonelee
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September 6, 2012
Subject:
SO LONG KAESONG
#94 saturday july 7th 1951 "seaside sabbatical" the cbs summer season run of Philip Marlowe opens with "we delay the start of our scheduled program we have delayed the start of our scheduled program to bring you a bulletin from cbs news 2 helicopters carrying the United Nations cease-fire team left for Kaesong shortly before 9 o'clock Korean time. Communist officers are already in Kaesong to participate in the preliminary cease-fire talks. This bulletin has come to you from cbs news" we now resume our scheduled program. MOST SATURDAYS AT THIS TIME WE SPEND AN EXCITING HALF HOUR OF ADVENTURE&ACTION WITH AMERICA'S PUBLIC HERO NUMBER ONE HOPALONG CASSIDY WELL EVEN 2-FISTED COWBOYS TAKE SUMMER VACATIONS WHEN THEY CAN & HOPPY IS NO EXCEPTION HOPPY&TOPPER WILL BE BACK WITH US RIDING THE CBS AIR-TRAILS AGAIN 11 WEEKS FROM TONIGHT SEPTEMBER 22d get this & get it straight crime is a suckers road & those who travel it wind up in the gutter the prison or the grave there's no other end but they never learn (organ sting) from the pen of raymond chandler outstanding author of crime fiction comes his most famous character in THE ADVENTURES OF PHILIP MARLOWE"
Sadly those cease-fire talks which got under way tuesday the 10th of july 1951 took 2 tragic years before the final armistice agreement was finally signed on July 27th 1953. What a wonderful world it would be had that peace been signed as quickly as Philip Marlowe signed off forever at the end of "The Sound & the Unsound" saturday September 15th 1951 "Now here again is the star of our show gerald mohr: Thanks Roy, ladies&gentlemen boys&girls tonight's broadcast concludes our current series of The Adventures of Philip Marlowe, I understand it won't be very long before we meet again so until we do we won't say goodbye just so long see ya soon"
We never did see him again but thanks to
archive.org these poignant moments when reel2reel stories collide with real history play back forever and ever in these Theatres of the Mind.
Reviewer:
Donn
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April 15, 2012
Subject:
Masterful Radio Entertainment
It would be difficult to overstate how well written and performed these stories are. I am on my second run through these programs, and I keep discovering new catchy phrases, and very intelligent word play.
The plots of the stories are secondary to the performance, dialogue and atmosphere of the productions.
Gerald Mohr is fantastic as Philip Marlowe, giving the right combination of strength, intellect, humor, and humanity to the classic noir detective.
And OTRR has done miracles with these old recordings. A few are still raw, but most are very clear and sound wonderful.
My highest recommendation.
Reviewer:
wildcatherder
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July 31, 2011
Subject:
Philip Marlowe source for "Nick Danger"
I grew up listening to The Firesign Theater. The hard-boiled detective Nick Danger was one of their stock characters. At last, I have had a chance to listen to the original archetype Philip Marlowe and to discover what a loving parody had been created. "The Iron Coffin" can be recognized as the starting point for Nick Danger's "Cut 'em Off at the Past". It's a strange experience to hear the parody first and then hear the original. Gerald Mohr is SO much better than Van Hefflin. I can almost hear Marlowe saying, "Take THAT, modern radio audience!"
Because of the very dramatic use of dynamic range, I recommend against trying to listen to these in an automobile. When Marlowe whispers to himself while crouched in the dark with his gun in his hand, you won't be able to understand what he is saying.
Reviewer:
wytchcroft
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July 6, 2011
Subject:
marlowe
Straight talking, sure footed and energetic with a terrific lead performance from Gerald Mohr. Essential for insomniacs everywhere.
Reviewer:
mockdog1
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June 22, 2011
Subject:
Red WInd
"There was a rough desert wind blowing into Los Angeles that evening. It was one of those hot, dry Santa Anna winds that comes down out of the mountain passes...On nights like that, every booze party ends in a fight, and meek little housewives finger the edge of a carving knife and study their husband's necks. Anything can happen when the Santa Anna blows in from the desert.
Yowza!! Maybe the best episode of the series, and a fine example of noir writing.
Reviewer:
jonfrum
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January 29, 2011
Subject:
Wonderful series
This is one of the best-written of all radio crime dramas. If I close my eyes, I can see these stories playing in a smokey movie theatre sixty years ago. Really a pleasure to go through them night after night - I'm on my second go-through now.
Note: Shows 1,2, and 5 are all the same.
Reviewer:
adamelijah
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May 14, 2010
Subject:
Get This and Get it Straight
Philip Marlowe may be the best of the best when it came to radio detective shows, particularly the Gerald Mohr version. (The Van Heflin episodes certainly don't diminish the canon.)
Mohr brings Marlowe to life and the tough, but decent hardboiled private eye. More relatable than Spade, Chandler's creation shines. Listening to Mohr's Marlowe, you never have any doubt that he's not only a tough man, but a good one. Simply the best.
And let me add that OTRR has done an admirable job on the sound quality in this set. They are things of beauty to listen to.
Reviewer:
porterville
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April 4, 2010
Subject:
Gerald Mohr Excellent As "Philip Marlowe"
This is a radio detective series not to be missed. Gerald Mohr has an excellent voice and delivery as detective "Philip Marlowe." The story lines are varied and interesting, but it is Gerald Mohr who dominates the program, bringing it to a high level of perfection.
Reviewer:
justcowboyway
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January 23, 2008
Subject:
Marlowe
The story The Lonesome Reunion was later done as a espode on the old TV show Maverick